The Ruling on Men Shaking Hands with Women
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Q: Some of the female hospital staff raise their voices when speaking with one another or with their male colleagues, and some of them shake hands with men, such as doctors and others. What is the ruling of the Shari'ah regarding this, and is there a sin upon us for remaining silent?
A: It is obligatory for doctors and female doctors to be mindful of the conditions of the patients, male and female, and not to raise their voices in their presence; rather, that should be done in other places. As for shaking hands, it is not permissible for a man to shake hands with a woman unless she is one of his mahram (a relative one may not marry). If the female doctor or nurse is not one of his mahram, then no; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:Sunan Ibn Majah 2874Sahih (Darussalam) And Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) said: .
Therefore, a woman does not shake hands with a man who is not her mahram. She does not shake hands with the doctor, the manager, the patient, or anyone else who is not her mahram. Rather, she speaks to him with kind words and greets him, but without shaking hands and without exposing herself. She covers her head, her body, and her face, even with a niqab (the face veil); because a woman is 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) and a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says: [Al-Ahzab: 53]. And He says, Exalted is He: [An-Nur 24:31] the verse [An-Nur: 31]. The head and the face are among the greatest of adornments, and so is what is on her hands or feet in the way of jewelry and henna. All of it is a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) according to the two verses mentioned. The point is that it is all 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered). Therefore, it is obligatory for her to cover herself and stay away from the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation); and among the causes of fitnah (trial, discord or temptation) is shaking hands.
A: It is obligatory for doctors and female doctors to be mindful of the conditions of the patients, male and female, and not to raise their voices in their presence; rather, that should be done in other places. As for shaking hands, it is not permissible for a man to shake hands with a woman unless she is one of his mahram (a relative one may not marry). If the female doctor or nurse is not one of his mahram, then no; because the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said:
But I do not shake hands with women.
إني لا أصافح النساءAnd by Allah, the hand of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) never touched the hand of a woman. He did not take their pledge of allegiance except by words, peace and blessings be upon him.
والله ما مست يد رسول الله ﷺ يد امرأة قط، ما كان يبايعهن إلا بالكلام عليه الصلاة والسلامTherefore, a woman does not shake hands with a man who is not her mahram. She does not shake hands with the doctor, the manager, the patient, or anyone else who is not her mahram. Rather, she speaks to him with kind words and greets him, but without shaking hands and without exposing herself. She covers her head, her body, and her face, even with a niqab (the face veil); because a woman is 'awrah (the part of the body that must be covered) and a fitnah (trial, discord or temptation). And Allah (Exalted and Majestic is He) says:
And when you ask [his wives] for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts.
وَإِذَا سَأَلْتُمُوهُنَّ مَتَاعًا فَاسْأَلُوهُنَّ مِنْ وَرَاءِ حِجَابٍ ذَلِكُمْ أَطْهَرُ لِقُلُوبِكُمْ وَقُلُوبِهِنَّnot expose their adornment except to their husbands, their fathers
وَلا يُبْدِينَ زِينَتَهُنَّ إِلا لِبُعُولَتِهِنَّ أَوْ آبَائِهِنَّ
Source
binbaz.org.sa
The Arabic text is copied verbatim from the original source, without any edits.